HELENSBURGH'S Hill House shop and its specially commissioned range of products from Glasgow company Hole in My Pocket have been announced as finalists in the Association for Cultural Enterprises awards.
When the Charles Rennie Mackintosh domestic masterpiece reopened last summer under its chainmail ‘Box’, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) also opened a new shop at the site to offer visitors bespoke design-led products inspired by the property and the pioneering conservation project that the charity has undertaken.
The retail team sourced hundreds of new products ranging from badges and scarves to specially commissioned jewellery pieces and a model Hill House made from Lego bricks.
The Trust also commissioned Glasgow’s Hole in my Pocket to design prints of The Hill House. As well as being framed, the design was used on tea towels, mugs, T-shirts and notebooks which have accounted for 13 per cent of souvenir sales at the property.
READ MORE: Pictures from Hill House's reopening as 'Box' project is completed
Shortlisted in the ‘Best Range’ category, judges described the Trust products as “very relevant and visually appealing in an architectural style taking inspiration from the site's current state, a clever way to promote conservation work from a different view".
In the ‘Best Shop’ category, judges said The Hill House was “stunning and well-designed with distinctive merchandising”.
The winners of the awards will be announced on March 19 at a ceremony in Harrogate. This is the first time the Trust has been a finalist in the award for one of its shops, making it through to the finals on one previous occasion, with its range of products created for Bannockburn in 2014.
The Hill House will take on The Science Museum and The Globe Theatre in the Best Shop category, while the Hole in My Pocket range of products will be up against English Heritage and Help for Heroes.
READ MORE: Hill House wins official museum accreditation
Alex Miller from the NTS said: “We knew that we’d need to do something special at The Hill House to properly reflect the scale and vision of the ‘box’ project.
"The shop was created from the ground up during the build of the ‘box’ and is worth a visit in itself for anyone who loves Mackintosh and design.
“Being a finalist in the awards highlights the excellent way that the merchandise team, retail suppliers and property operations team worked together to deliver a unique and inspiring retail offer.
“Whether you buy a tea towel or a limited edition print, you’re not only taking home a souvenir that continues Scotland’s strong tradition of design and innovation, you’re also contributing to the vital conservation work we do as a charity.”
READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest news headlines from around Helensburgh and Lomond here
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